SE Asia Stocks-Most gain; Philippines, Indonesia climb to record closes

By Chandini Monnappa

Dec 28 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets closed

firmer on Thursday as broader Asian shares scaled a decade high

on bets of a brighter outlook for the global economy and robust

commodity prices, with the Philippines and Indonesia climbing to

record finishes.

Philippine shares gained 0.5 percent in their fourth

straight winning session as data showing a narrower budget

deficit for November added to the positive sentiment. The

passage of a long-awaited tax reform plan by the Philippine

Congress, a credit ratings upgrade by Fitch, and faster economic

growth forecast by the World Bank had brought cheer to investors

this month.

Financials accounted for almost half the gains on the index,

with Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co closing at its

highest in more than four years, while Ayala Land

marked a near seven-week closing peak.

Vietnam shares rose to their highest close in more

than 10 years, firming nearly 1 percent, on gains across the

board.

The top robusta producer's shipment of coffee beans in

December is expected to rise from a month earlier, the Vietnam

government said on Wednesday, in line with traders' forecasts.

Both Vinacafe Bien Hoa and Vietnam Dairy Products

JSC scaled record closes.

Indonesian shares marked a fresh record finish,

supported mainly by financials.

PT Bank Central Asia rose nearly 2 percent, while

PT Bank Danamon Indonesia closed 3.3 percent higher.

Singapore and Malaysia also firmed, aided

largely by banking stocks.

Singapore's top lender Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp

was the best performer on the index, closing 1 percent

up at its highest in two weeks.

Meanwhile, Thai stocks slipped 0.6 percent, snapping

four sessions of gains.

Furniture manufacturer Rockworth Pcl tumbled over

20 percent, while construction service provider EMC Pcl

dropped more than 11 percent.

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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS

Market Current Previous Close Pct Move

Singapore 3399.1 3391.67 0.22

Bangkok 1743.29 1752.89 -0.55

Manila 8535.09 8490.91 0.52

Jakarta 6314.046 6277.165 0.59

Kuala Lumpur 1779.1 1771.76 0.41

Ho Chi Minh 976.72 968.46 0.85

Change on year

Market Current End 2016 Pct Move

Singapore 3399.1 2880.76 17.99

Bangkok 1743.29 1542.94 12.98

Manila 8535.09 6840.64 24.77

Jakarta 6314.046 5296.711 19.21

Kuala Lumpur 1779.1 1641.73 8.37

Ho Chi Minh 976.72 664.87 46.90

(Reporting by Reporting by Chandini Monnappa in Bengaluru;

Editing by Amrutha Gayathri)